today is a declared day of rage in libya, a nation led by muammar gaddafi. security forces were out clashing with anti-government protesters. the libyan opposition website reports that four protesters have been killed so far there. and in yemen's seventh day of protests, government loyalists lashed out at peaceful demonstrators with batons and daggers. >>> here at home, president obama is on the defensive as house republicans seek to make steeper spending cuts for 2012. nbc's chief white house correspondent chuck todd in washington, d.c., with more on this story. hey, chuck. good morning. >> good morning, ann. today is the day that house republicans are expected to pass their attempt to cut 60 more billion dollars from this year's budget. so what is president obama doing? yesterday he did interviews, and the home media markets of three leading house republicans, john boehner in cincinnati, eric canter in richmond, and paul ryan, the budget chief in milwaukee. here's what the president said to our affiliate in milwaukee, wtmj, about his relationship with paul